A FAMILY had to be rescued from bleak moors in the middle of the night.

Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team was called out after the three people became hopelessly lost on the Pennine Way in the Peak District.

The team was alerted at 11.45pm on Good Friday after the family, who had been enjoying a bank holiday walk, became disorientated and lost on Bleaklow Head – the Peak District’s second highest peak.

Team spokesman Scott Roberts said: “The weather conditions were treacherous as there was still a significant amount of snow on the hills and visibility was very poor.’’

The family was eventually found by the team at Near Black Clough in the early hours of Saturday morning.

They were initially assessed on the scene by team medics and found to be very cold, wet and also exhausted.

After the initial assessment it was found that two of them were capable of walking off the hill while the third was so exhausted a stretcher was needed.

After a two-mile trek off the hill they were taken to hospital as a precaution.

The rescue officially finished at 6am.

Scott added: “It was vitally important the team worked through the search area as quickly and as thoroughly as possible as there was a significant risk that the walkers may have been hypothermic.

“Thankfully, they were found in time and we got them off the hill to safety.’’

Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team is a registered charity based at Hade Edge and made up of volunteers – many from the Holme Valley.

Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team want switch to new base.